Auckland, Nov 16 NZPA - New Zealand music icon Don McGlashan has complained to TVNZ after it used one of his songs to accompany a picture montage last weekend marking National's victory.

The complaint follows TV One's use of Anchor Me, written by McGlashan and performed by his former group The Mutton Birds, during the piece last Sunday.

It prompted McGlashan to write to TVNZ to say he had never voted National and "would rather have sex with a very ugly crayfish than let them use my music", the Herald on Sunday reported.

McGlashan said he wasn't criticising the right of New Zealanders "to throw out the best government we've had in years because we happen to be a bit bored", but wanted to be asked next time a network wanted to use one of his songs in a political context.

TVNZ said the choice of Anchor Me was not to endorse National but to indicate the new Government had a tough economy to deal with.

"We just felt it was a good illustration," spokeswoman Megan Richards said.

Several musicians complained when United States Republican presidential candidate John McCain played their songs at campaign rallies this year, including Jon Bon Jovi, Heart, The Foo Fighters and John Mellencamp.

Democratic Party supporter Bruce Springsteen also complained bitterly when then-president Ronald Reagan used his protest song Born In The USA during his campaign in the 1980s.

But while copyright laws mean politicians and most other businesses cannot use music legally without permission, it is unlikely TVNZ has done anything illegal.

TVNZ, like most television and radio networks, can play most New Zealand music at a fee after signing an agreement with the Australasian Performing Rights Association (Apra).

The association's executive director of New Zealand operations, Anthony Healey, said that he understood McGlashan's anger but TVNZ had done nothing wrong.

"I think because it falls in the blanket licence there's probably nothing he (McGlashan) can do," Apra executive director of New Zealand operations Anthony Healey said.

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